Welling United vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 15th November – Match Report
Welling United 0
Cray Wanderers 2
Waldock 4, Hernandez 34
Cray Wanderers returned to winning ways after seven matches without a league victory with a professional performance which moved the Wands up to sixth and the perfect response to Tuesday night’s defeat at Folkestone Invicta.
The Wands got off to the perfect start taking the lead in the fourth minute when Harry Waldock scored his first goal for the club with a superb strike from the edge of the area. Cray came close to scoring a second through Chris Dickson and Lateef Adaja before scoring a second in the 34th minute when Alex Hernandez scored his seventh of the season turning in Adaja’s cross. There was still time for before half time for Hernandez to come close twice to scoring first from a penalty kick saved by Freddie Norman and then placed a shot just wide of the left post. The defence came into their own in the second half restricting Welling too few if any chances and on the break Josh Williams hit the crossbar and Adaja saw a shot saved by the legs of Norman.
Cray were looking for bouncebackability after conceding eight at Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday night but this was much more like the Wands performances throughout the season and this was a classy all round display.
From the game at Cheriton Road there were five changes to the Wands team with Harry Seaden returning in goal after a three match absence in place of Ethan Binnie. Also Adrian Gyamera, Josh Williams, Harry Waldock and Chris Dickson came in for Prosper Keto, Nods Bobomurodov, Ralfi Hand and Kareem Isiaka.
It has been a difficult first Isthmian Premier season for Welling United and started the match 21st on nine points and in Rod Stringer’s final game as Interim Manager there were three changes from the side beaten at home by Burgess Hill Town last Saturday with Mert Apat, Leo Young and Jonah Walker coming in for Scott Simmons, ex-Wand Eze Ebuzoeme and Cory Adjetey-Brew.
The match had been in a long time in the making as the last time the teams met in a league game, Wings Mull of Kintyre was number one in the charts on 14th January 1978. The match played in front of an impressive four figure crowd was dedicated to Women and Men’s Health Awareness with Welling United and Bexley Wellbeing Partnership joining forces for a day of fundraising for Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. Also before the game there was a moment’s applause for Welling United supporter Peter Beasley who recently passed away.
The game thankfully had no need for a postponement despite Friday’s rain but certainly it was a murky afternoon with a light drizzle prevalent during through the match.
Not for the first time this season Cray got off to a positive start and after a spell of pressure from a throw in close to the left touchline the ball came to Ashley Nzala who put over a cross which was headed away but not cleared and fell in space to Harry Waldock who fired home a cracking strike from just outside the area which hit the top right corner. Waldock who had been recalled by Gillingham for their EFL Trophy game on Tuesday night had been coming close to scoring in recent weeks and this goal was just reward for his efforts.
Welling had a bit more possession after that but Quade Taylor and Remi Sutton at the back were resolute and Adrian Gyamera and Frankie Morgan disciplined alongside them.
Cray almost added a second after fifteen minutes when Waldock found Josh Williams down the right and his ball into the six yard box was met acrobatically by Chris Dickson but his hooked shot went past the left post.
There was a blow for Cray three minutes later when Nzala had to go off with an injury and was replaced by Lateef Adaja.
Welling looked to find their way back into the game and in the 22nd minute Leo Young fired in a low shot which was well held by Harry Seaden.
Two minutes later Cray came close again when Dickson who showed his depth of experience of quality up front to set up Adaja down the left of the area but his shot was saved by the legs of Freddie Norman and following up Waldock fired over the bar.
The match seemed to flying by pretty quickly and in the 34th minute Cray scored a second their efforts deserved as down the left Adaja put over a hard to defend against cross to the far post where Alex Hernandez was on hand to divert the ball into the net.
Two minutes before half time Cray were awarded a penalty when Adaja was clipped inside the area by Luke O’Neill. However, from the spot Norman who had a good game for Welling made a strong stop to push out Hernandez’ penalty.
There was still time before the break for Adaja to see a shot blocked and then down the right, Williams set up Hernandez who flashed a shot just across goal and behind.
HT: 0-2
There was a couple of Wings changes at half time and for Cray, Kareem Isiaka came on for Alex Hernandez.
The second half was really after a draining week for the Wands a chance for the defence to really come into play and despite the Wings best efforts chances for the home side were few and far between with the evening drawing in and adding to the murkiness above Park View Road.
Cray were looking to play more on the break and were unlucky not to add a third in the 63rd minute when from a break from a Welling attack Josh Williams burst through on goal and was unlucky to see his goalbound shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce out as the ball came out to Adaja who shot over.
Shortly after, Williams cutting in from the right set up Adaja who was denied by a fine blocked save by Norman who did well to follow up to block from Dickson’s strike.
From here the game was practically won for Cray with Welling’s main threat coming from John Ufuah who put over a good cross from the right but flashed across goal.
The Wands saw out the remaining minutes to pick up three points and show the spirit and determination of the squad to get back on track after Tuesday and for Tim O’Shea for his faith in his players to get the result.
The win saw Cray move up one place to 6th on 27 points along with Chatham Town, Aveley and Dartford albeit with the Wands having played more matches. For Welling who have a new manager arriving remain 21st after a seventh home league defeat of the season but still plenty of time to turn things around as Cray were in a similar position this time last season before starting a climb away from the bottom four in December.
The Wands are next in action on Saturday 22nd November vs 9thplaced Burgess Hill Town at Flamingo Park for the first league meeting since 2009 and at least have put Tuesday night at Folkestone firmly behind them.
Welling United: Freddie Norman, Luke O’Neill (Eze Ebuzoeme, H/T), Lekan Majoyegbe, Aaron Williams-Bushell (Josh Redfearn, H/T), Jonah Walker, Jack Paxman (Capt.), Leo Young, Mert Apat, Jack Thomas, John Ufuah, Femi Akinwande (TQ Addy, 78): Subs: Scott Simmons, Liam Boxall
Booked: Ufuah 31, O’Neill 42, Young 80
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Remi Sutton, Quade Taylor, Frankie Morgan (Prosper Keto, 90), Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Harry Waldock, Ashley Nzala (Lateef Adaja, 18), Josh Williams, Chris Dickson, Alex Hernandez (Kareem Isiaka, H/T): Subs: Kevin Kardel, Ralfi Hand
Booked: Raymond 76
Referee: Robert Alderton
Assistants: Liam Dawson, Charlie Roberts
Att: 1415
